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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

M. A. WALKER. FIRE LADDER Patented Mar. 2, 1897.

. 5 Sheets-Sh eet 2. M. A. WALKER. FIRE LADDER.

Patented Mar. 2, 1897.

(N0 Medal.)

Ewan/Tor I a G 745/27veaysea (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3. M.'A. WALKER. FIRE LADDER No. 577,897. Patented Mar; 2, 1897..

n nms FETERS mum-Lama, wuums'mu D c (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4. M. A. WALKER.

FIRE LADDER (No Model.)' I ss'heets-sheet 5.-

' M. A. WALKER.

FIRE LADDER. No. 577,897. Patented Mar. 2, 1897.

[ml II 0 1 u all N UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARK A. WALKER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 THOMAS J.

QUINN, OF SAME PLACE.

FlRE-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,897, dated March 2, 1897. Application filed February 18, 1896. Serial No, 579,74=9. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARK A. WALKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Ladders, of which the following is a specification, reference be- 'ble, showing a portion of the ladder in its raised position. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the shifting crank employed for erecting and extending the ladder. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on line 00 00, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detached perspective view of some of the parts shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 isa longitudinal section through the forward truck, show-;

ing the brake mechanism. Fig. 7 is a perspect-ive view of the brake-beam and its connection. Fig. 8 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the forward axle, showing the rigid supporting-links for the circle-plates. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the clamp for said links. Fig. 10 is a diagram plan of the steering-gear for the rear Wheels. Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section through the lower end of the ladder. Figs. 12 and 13 are respectively a perspective view and elevation of a portion of the ladder, illustrating the operation of the locking-latch. Fig. 14: is a section on line y y, Fig. 12. Fig. 15 is an elevation of the locking-latch employed on the upper ladder. Fig. 16 is a section of the ladder, showing the means employed for securing the rounds; and Fig. 17 is an elevation of the supporting-standard for the turn-table. Fig. l8is an enlarged elevation of the raising and lowering mechanism; and Fig. 19 is a sectional elevation on the line a: 00, Fig. 18.

A is the frame or bed of the truck,comprising longitudinal side beams provided with suitalgle trusses A and the cross girths or beams A upward to clear the front wheels, and in rear of this upward bend is located the turn-table B, supported upon suitable ball or roller bearings secured to the frame.

0 are upright parallel side frames mounted upon the turn-table B, provided with the forwardly and upwardly curved extensions 0.

C are slots in the frames, which at their forward ends are curved corresponding to the curved extensions 0 and are substantially straight and upwardly inclined at their rear ends.

D are rack-bars secured to the frames 0, preferably on their inner faces, below the slots 0 and parallel thereto.

E is the main ladder, which in its lowered position is supported upon suitable rests F above the bed.

G is a shaft jonrnaled in bearings at the base end of the ladder, its opposite ends passing through the slots 0 being provided with the collars or end caps G. G are pinions on this shaft adapted to mesh with the racks D.

F are rods pivotally secured at F upon opposite sides of the ladder E and pivotally connected at their opposite ends to the frame C.

H is the crank-shaft, connected to the shaft G through a train of gearing for increasing the power, preferably comprising the pinions H on the shaft H, the large and small gears I and I on the intermediate shaft 1 and the gear-wheels G on the shaft G. The crank shaft H is provided with a shifting crank and gear connection, (shown in detail in Figs. 3, 4, and 5,) in which a are sleeves upon opposite ends of the crank-shaft H, passing through the j ournal-bearings b on the ladder.

c are gear wheels preferably integrally formed with the sleeve a, which mesh with' the gears J on the winding-drum J. Upon the ends of the shaft H, which project beyond the ends of the sleeves a, are secured, prefer ably, by the pins d, the collars cl of same outside diameter as said sleeves, leaving an annular space 6 between.

H are the cranks, each provided with the annular sockets f, adapted to fit over the collar d and sleeve (1 and having the inwardly- The forward end of this frame is bent projecting lug g extending into the annular space (2, the same serving to lock the crank on the shaft II.

h is a sleeve upon the socket f, provided upon opposite sides with inwardly-projecting lugs 1', which extend through longitudinal slots jin said socket and into the annular space (2.

The adjacent ends of the collar (1 and sleeve a are provided upon opposite sides with slots and 70, corresponding to the slots j, in either of which slots the lugs 2' may be engaged by shifting the sleeve longitudinally, the whole forming a means for connecting the cranks either so as to drive the shaft H. and thereby the mechanism for erecting the ladder, or to the sleeves a, driving the winding-drum J, used in extending the ladder.

I are ratchet wheels preferably placed upon the shaft '1 adjacent to the sides of the ladder.

I are holding pawls or dogs pivotally secured at t" to the sides of the ladder and adapted to engage with the ratchet 1 I is a rock-shaft having the crank-bends m connected by the links on to the rods m slidingly secured in eyes m and connected to the free ends *9 of the pawls 1 m are springs sleeved upon the rods m between the collars m thereon and the eyes wa and tending to hold the pawls in en gagement with the ratchets.

To the main ladder E are slidingly secured one or more extension-sections, preferably two, K and L. The section K fits between the sides of the main ladder, resting upon the rounds thereof, and is securely held thereto by the overhanging flange of an angle-bar E. The section K is extended by the cables J which are wound upon the drum J and are attached at oneend directly to the lower end of the section, the other ends passing over sheaves at the upper-end of the main ladder and returning to the lower end of the section K. In order to attach the cables to the ladder K in such a manner that they may freely wind upon the drum J, I preferably employ the travelers J having grooved wheels 02-, adapted to run upon opposite ends of the cross-rod K, which forms the lowest round of the ladder K, and provided with eyes n, to which the ends of the cable are attached.

The upper section L of the ladder may be operated by a cable, the end of which is attached to the upper end of the main ladder, and, passing over sheaves on the upper end of the first extension-section K, is attached at its opposite end to the lower end of the sec tion L. WVith this connection (not shown in the drawings) the upper section is extended or lowered simnltaneo usly with the movement of the section K.

In Figs. 11,12,153, 14, and 15 I have shown to hold said sections in their extended positions, but which may be automatically unlocked to permit of lowering the ladder. The construction shown in Fig. 15 I preferably use upon the upper section of the ladder, and that shown in the other figures on the lower or first extension of the ladder, the latter being constructed as follows:

0 is a latch dog or bolt secured on the end of the spring 0, which, passing through an aperture in the lower end of the section K, is adapted to engage with apertures 19 in the angle-bar E on the main ladder, the number of these apertures 19 corresponding to the number of rounds in the ladder.

q is a rock-ar1n pivoted on the pin (1, secured to the section K, and provided on its free end with a wedge-shaped cam (1 adapted to be projected under the spring 0 and to withdraw the latch-bolt from engagement with the aperture 19. r is another arm pivoted upon the pin q and held normally so as to project into the path of the rounds of the main ladder E, preferably by means of the gravity-arm r.

s is a pin on the arm q, ands is a shoulder or stop on the arm 7', adapted to engage with the pin 3 in the movement of said arm 0' in one direction, the parts being so arranged that when the section K of the ladder is raised the latch-bolt 0 will engage with each of the apertures 19 in the bar E, the inclined face of the bolt forcing it back again as the ladder continues its upward movement. At the same time the arm 4 will engage with each round of the ladder-section E, which will turn said arm upon its pivot from its normal position (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 13) to the position shown in Fig. 12, the arm q remaining stationary. If while the arm 1 is still in engagement with the round itis attempted to lower the section K, the latter can only descend to the point where the bolt 0 registers with the aperture 19, when the spring 0 will force the bolt into the aperture and prevent furt-her downward movement. hen, however, the upward movement of the ladder is continued until the arm 7* disengages from the round, the gravity-arm T" will return said arm to its normal position, and if the section K then be lowered before the latch-bolt comes into engagement with the next higher aperture p the arm T will be rocked in the opposite direction in passing the round, which, through the engagement of the stop 3 against the pin 8, will rock the arm q, forcing the wedge (1 under the spring 0 and locking the bolt 0 against engagement with the aperture 19, as shown in full lines in Fig. 13.

In the construction shown in Fig. 15 I use in place of the latch-bolt 0 the latch-dog t, which is pivoted to the side of the ladder and is held by the spring 2, in the path of the rounds of the lower ladder, with which it is adapted to engage. In lowering the ladder this arm is forced back by the rock-arms u and '0, which are similar in construction and operation to the arms q and r of the other latch.

The frame A is supported upon the forward and rearward by swivel-trucks M and M, to

the former of which is applied a brake mechanism of the following construction:

N is a rocking brake-beam suspended by links N from the spring-bar N and held in fixed relation to the axle M by the links N N are crank-bends formed at the ends of the beam, to which are pivotally secured the brake-shoes N attached by the spring-arms N to the links N.

N is a rock-arm extending rearwardly from the beam N.

O is a link connecting the rock-arm N to the vertical rod 0, passing centrally through the hollow king-bolt P, uniting the stationary and movable circle-plates Q and Q.

O is a swivel connecting-link between the upper end of the rodO and the rock-arm O on the rock-shaft 0 the latter being provided with an arm 0 connected by the rod 0 to the foot-lever 0 all so arranged that by throwing the foot on lever O the brake-beam N is rocked and the shoes N pressed against the wheels, the swivel connection 0 permitting the wheels to be turned at any angle to the truck without interfering with the operation of the brake.

The circle-plate Q is normally supported upon the rear spring Q and side springs Q but in order to afford a more rigid support when the ladder is being erected I provide the supporting-links R, pivotally connected at their upper ends to the circle-plate and having the slots R at their lower ends, which are also notched or serrated on their inner faces R".

R are ears or face-plates clipped to the axle, to which the links R are adapted to be clamped by the plates or collars R which have an opposite or right and left screw-thread engagement with a shaft R the latter being journaled in the ears R and passing through the slots It.

w are lugs on the collars R fitting in the slots R and holding the collars from turning, and w are notches or serrations thereon corresponding to the serrations R.

R are hand-wheels on each end of the shaft R, by means of which the latter may be turned to clamp or unclamp the links R.

The forward wheels are provided with suitable tongue and draft connections. (Indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6.) The rear wheels are provided with a steering-gear. (Shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings, in which S indicates the movable circle-plate, having the gear-segment S secured thereto.)

S is a lever. pivotally secured at S to the truck-frame, having on one side of the fulcrum the gear-segment S meshing with the segment S, and carrying at the other end the grooved segment S T are cables attached to the lever S which pass over the grooved segment S extending in opposite directions to the sides of the frame, and thence around sheaves T to the rear end of the truck and around the sheaves T to the drum T This drum is journaled on a vertical pivot and has secured to it the handwheel T.

U is a step or platform at the rear of the truck, on which the operator may stand while steering the truck.

I preferably construct my ladders with detachable rounds, as shown in Fig. 16 of the drawings, in which V is a round, one end of which is adapted to engage with a socket V, formed in one of the side bars.

' V is a metallic socket for the other end of the round, fitting in an aperture in the side bar, the latter being of sufficient size to allow the round to be passed through it.

y are securing-flanges on the socket V to one of which is secured the tie-rod W, which passes through the two side bars of the latter below the round V and is clamped by the nut W. With this construction a broken round may be removed and replaced by simply unfastening the nut NV and removing the metallic socket V In practice, to erect the ladder the cranks H are connected to the shaft II by shifting the sleeve It so as to engage the lugs i with the slots 7c. The cranks are then turned, which, through the medium of the gears 11, I I, and G impart motion to pinions G on the shaft G. This will carry theend of the ladder around the path of the slots 0 and in combination with the action of the rods F will raise the ladder into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. To extend the sections K and L, one or both of the cranks H may be shifted to operate the winding-drum J by moving the sleeve h in the opposite direction. The ladder may then be extended, and the latches, operating in the manner before described, serve to lock or unlock the ladder, as desired. To lower the main ladder, the pawls I are disengaged from the ratchet-wheels by rocking the shaft 1 and the cranks are then turned in the reverse direction.

I preferably provide the ladder with a folding frame X, hinged to the frame A beneath the turn-table B. This frame is held in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 when the ladder is traveling, but may be turned down into the position shown in full lines when the ladder is to be erected. The frame comprises the standard X, connected by the cross-brace X and diagonal braces X and X are extensible legs sliding through eyes in the brace X and adjustably secured to the standards X by the right and left screwthreaded rods X having the hand-wheels X By adjusting down the legs X the turn-table may be rigidly supported.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a fire-ladder, thecombination with the IIO ladder and means for erecting and extending the same, of a crank connection for actuating either the erecting or extending mechanism comprising a shaft adapted to operate the one, a sleeve on said shaft adapted to operate the other, a crank having a socket fitting over said shaft and sleeve, and a shifting device adapted to connect said socket to either shaft or sleeve.

2. In a fire-ladder, the combination with the ladder and means for erecting and extending the same, of a shaft and a sleeve on said shaft, the one connected to the erecting mechanism and the other to the extending mechanism, a fixed collar in the projecting end of the shaft arranged to leave an annular space between it and the end of the sleeve, said collar and sleeve having keyways formed in their adjacent ends, a crank having a socket fitting over said collar and sleeve, and an inwardly-projecting lug adapted to be adjusted laterally to engage with either one of said keyways or to register with said annular space.

3. In a fire-ladder, the combination with the ladder and means for erecting and extending the same, of the shaft H connected to the erecting mechanism, the sleeve a thereon connected to the extending mechanism, the collar 61 secured to the projecting end of the shaft so as to leave the annular space 6 between it and the end of the sleeve, the said collar and sleeve having slots or keyways k and is formed in theiradjacent ends respectively, the crank H having the socket f fitting over said collar and sleeve, said socket having the lug 9 extending into the annular space a, and the longitudinal slot j, and the sleeve h, longitudinally adjustably secured upon the socket f and having the inwardly-projecting lug passing through the slot j and adapted to be engaged with either of the slots or k or to be registered with the annular space (2.

4:. In a ladder, the combination, with the two side bars, one of said bars having a socket formed therein, the other of said side bars having an opening, of a suitable socket V adapted to close said opening, a round fashioned to pass through said opening and engage both of said sockets, and a tie-rod passing through the socket V and the side bars of said ladder for holding said round and socket in place.

5. In a fire-ladder, the combination with a wheel-truck swiveled upon a hollow kin g-bolt, a rocking brake-beam carried by said truck, brakeshoes on crank-arms on said beam, in proximity to the wheels of the truck, a rockarm for said brake-beam adapted to move the shoes in contact with the wheels, and an actuating connection for said rock-arm passing through said hollow king-bolt and comprising a pivoted link-section.

6. In a fire-ladder, the combination of the frame, the wheel-truck supporting said frame, the hollow kin g-bolt P, the brake-beam N, the

links N and N securing said beam to the truck, the crank-arms N and the rock-arm N on said beam, the brake-shoes N on said crank-arms, the foot-lever O on the frame, the rock-shaft 0 having the arms O 'connected to said lever, the rod 0'' passing through the king-bolt, the link 0 connecting said rod to the arm N the arm 0 on the rock-shaft, and a swivel connection between said arm and rod 0.

7. In a fire-ladder truck, the combination with a spring-supported circle-plate, of links depending from said circle longitudinally slotted at their lower ends, a shaft passing through said slots journaled in bearings rigidly secured to the axle, clamping-plates having a screw-threaded engagement with said shaft, and means for turning the shaft to operate said clamping-plates and rigidly secure the links to the axle.

8. In a fire-ladder truck, the combination with a spring-supported circle-plate, of the links R depending fromsaid circle-plate, having the longitudinal slots R at their lower ends, the shaft R passing through said slots, the bearings R in which said shaft is journaled rigidly secured to the axle, the clamp ing plates or collars R having respectively a right and left screw-threaded engagement with said shaft and the lugs 10 entering the slots R and means for turning the shaft to clamp or unclamp said links between said collars R and bearings R 9. In afire-ladder, the combination with the spring-supported circle-plate, of the depending links R having the longitudinal slots R and serrated face R the shaft R the bear ing R rigidly secured to the axle the clamping plates or collars R having respectively a right and left screw-thread engagement with the shaft, the lugs to and serrated face w, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

10. In a fire-ladder,the combination with the frame and the turn-table supported thereon, of the folding standard X hinged to the frame below the turn-table, consisting of side bars and cross-bars, and having the adjustable legs or extensions X slidingly engaging the lowermost cross-bar, and the screws X between and engaging the legs and standards, substantially as and for the purpose described.

1 1. In an extension-ladder, the combination with a latch-dog on one ladder-section adapted to engage successively with a series of detents on the opposite ladder-section as the ladder is extended, of a releasing-arm for said latchdog, extending into the path of the rounds of the opposite ladder-section and adapted to be delayed in passing each round as the ladder is extended and to be operated to release the latch from each detent in passing said round in the opposite way, as the ladder is lowered.

12. In an extension-ladder, the combination with a latch-dog on one ladder-section adapted to engage successively with a series of detents on the opposite ladder-section, as the ladder latter movement to withdraw the latch-dog is extended, of a rook-arm on the section earfrom engagement with the detent.

rying the latch-dog, extending into the path In testimony whereof I affix my signature of the rounds of the opposite ladder-section in presence of two witnesses.

and adapted to be rocked one way in passing MARK A. WALKER. each round as the ladder is extended, and to Witnesses: 4

be rocked in the opposite way in passing said M. B. ODOGHERTY,

O. F. BARTHEL.

rounds as the ladder is lowered and in said 

